Cabinet orders sweeping review of government travel expenses
In a move to strengthen financial governance and promote greater transparency in public spending, the government has launched a comprehensive review of travel and transportation allowances across government entities.
The initiative seeks to ensure that all government agencies comply with the Civil Service Council’s regulations governing official travel expenses, while standardizing spending practices and improving the efficiency of public financial management.
The Cabinet has tasked the Economic Affairs Committee with overseeing the review, directing the Ministry of Finance to work closely with the Civil Service Bureau and other relevant authorities to identify government entities that continue to apply travel and transportation policies that differ from those outlined in Civil Service Council Resolution No. 1 of 2015.
As part of the review, ministries and government agencies will be required to explain the reasons for maintaining alternative regulations and provide details of any financial impact resulting from the differences.
The exercise is intended to assess inconsistencies, enhance accountability, and ensure fair and uniform application of financial rules across the public sector.
The Ministry of Finance has already begun implementing the directive by requesting all concerned government entities to submit copies of their decisions, regulations, and circulars governing travel and transportation expenses.
Agencies have also been asked to justify any deviations from the 2015 Civil Service Council regulations and quantify the resulting financial implications.
Upon completion of the study, the Ministry of Finance will submit a detailed report to the Economic Affairs Committee, outlining its findings along with recommendations aimed at improving oversight, reducing unnecessary expenditure, and aligning government spending practices with approved financial regulations.
